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Let's take stock of the two opponents in the 3:30 p.m. tilt at Iowa on Saturday. The Penn State Nittany Lions, one of the best teams in the nation based off of its undefeated record, No. 3 ranking, statistics, and performances...

Penn State-Iowa Football: A Trap Game in Iowa City?

by Isaac Luber (Columnist)

76

1,299 reads

Preview/Prediction

November 06, 2008


Let's take stock of the two opponents in the 3:30 p.m. tilt at Iowa on Saturday.

The Penn State Nittany Lions, one of the best teams in the nation based off of its undefeated record, No. 3 ranking, statistics, and performances. Won close games against Purdue, Ohio State, and Illinois. Beat Purdue by 14, Ohio State by seven, and Illinois by 14.

The Iowa Hawkeyes, a middle of the road Big Ten team. Lost close games to Michigan State, Illinois, Pittsburgh, and Northwestern. Lost to Michigan State by three, Illinois by three, Pittsburgh by one, and Northwestern by five.

Penn State is 9-0 overall and 4-0 on the road. Iowa, meanwhile, is 5-4 overall, but 4-1 at home. Penn State's closest game, against Ohio State, was on the road. Iowa's biggest margin of victory, against Maine, was at home.

Could this game possibly be an upset in Kinnick Stadium?

Now, even though the people on Big 10 Tonight claimed that Kinnick was the hardest place to play in the Big 10, it is not.

The hardest place to play is Beaver Stadium, with the best student section in the country, and a home game there is the "greatest show in college football." Its record crowd is over 110,000, and average attendance is close to 107,000 or 108,000. Beaver Stadium is followed closely by the Horseshoe, where the Buckeyes have lost four games in the past eight years. Its record attendance is over 105,000, and it usually seats about 100,000.

Back to the game.

Iowa features star running back Shonn Greene. He has 198 carries for 1,257 yards, which is over six yards per carry. He also has 11 rushing touchdowns, his longest being a 52-yarder.

Iowa's receiving corps is led by wide receivers Andy Brodell and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and tight end Brandon Myers. Each of these three players have over 20 receptions. 

Brodell has 27 receptions for over 450 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson-Koulianos has 26 receptions for over 300 yards and one touchdown. Myers has 22 receptions for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.

Penn State features dual-threat quarterback Daryll Clark, who is 126-of-200 passing for over 1,600 yards and 11 touchdowns while only throwing two interceptions. Clark has also rushed 55 times for nearly 230 yards has eight rushing touchdowns.

Penn State's running game, besides Clark, is led by a dynamic thunder and lightning duo. 

The thunder, Evan Royster, is the main back who is powerful and agile. He has 135 carries for 970 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He averages over seven yards per carry.

The lightning, Stephfon Green, has ran the ball 73 times for 434 yards, which is nearly six yards per carry. He has four rushing touchdowns, which are mostly long runs in which he breaks through the front seven and speeds through the secondary.

Penn State's receiving corps is led by the trio of seniors Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood. I don't even need individual stats to describe how good they are.

Combined, they have over 10 total touchdowns, over 1,000 receiving yards, and over 85 catches. They also have touches from rushing, returning, and sometimes even passing. They are all great receivers and all-around players, but Derrick Williams is the best all-around player.

Now for the prediction.

Penn State is a great team. Its offense averages over 40 points per game and its defense allows just over 10 points per game. Iowa scores just under 30 points per game and gives up over 13 points per game.

The Lions, however, have played better teams and better offenses than Iowa. Penn State has faced better defenses than the Hawkeyes. I expect the Lions to come out a little rusty after a bye, but they will start to come alive towards the end of the first quarter.

Their defense will hold up and I believe it will give up no more than 14 points in this game, and that's at most. Penn State's offense will score in many ways against this Iowa defense, and the home field won't be much of a factor after PSU gets the lead.

Penn State will show why it is arguably the best team in the nation. It will completely dominate this game.

Penn State 48, Iowa 10

Author Poll

Who wins this Saturday?

  • PSU in a blowout.
  • PSU comfortably.
  • PSU in a close one.
  • Iowa in a blowout (that's a joke).
  • Iowa comfortably (like that could happen).
  • Iowa in a close one (maybe the only possible Iowa win).
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Who wins this Saturday?

  • PSU in a blowout.

    18.2%

  • PSU comfortably.

    28.8%

  • PSU in a close one.

    8.3%

  • Iowa in a blowout (that's a joke).

    1.5%

  • Iowa comfortably (like that could happen).

    4.5%

  • Iowa in a close one (maybe the only possible Iowa win).

    38.6%
  • Total votes: 132
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74 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. J.A. Allen 8 months ago

    What is this some form of retribution?? Just because Iowa fell a little short last week (actually they played like fish) you are going to trash my theory that --well never mind my theory now because it is toast.

    But 48-10--please! Have some respect! You do not know the presumptive mood in Iowa City and Issac - son - the Nittanys are going home with their tails in knot!

    So she says...jaa

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      I think Iowa is a good team. They have not lost a game by more than 5. However, PSU has not won a game by less than 7. Iowa is down right now after they had a game won and lost. PSU will come in and dominate. Honestly, if PSU was ranked 2 in the polls this week, it would have been a close game, but with PSU ranked three, they will take out their anger which results in....OUCH!

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  2. Adam turley 8 months ago

    You got your texas tech win, now my horns could use a little divine intervention with an Iowa win lol

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  3. Kevin Paul 8 months ago

    For anyone that believes in jinxes... they better hope they're not Penn State fans. It is just that weird karma that every prognosticator out there is already placing Penn State at 12-0. I honestly don't think Iowa or Michigan State is a walk in the park... the Nittany Lions need to be focused like in their other games and they need to pick up where they left off before the bye.

    Basically, it will be similar to the Wisconsin game... PSU needs to shut down Shonn Greene and the running game and force Stanzi and the passing game to beat them. Iowa's passing game seems to have had more success than Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes also have been solid against the run, so Penn State will need to have some success in the air. All in all, I think this will be a closer game than some people think. Illinois was up 24-9 on Iowa I think last week, and the Hawkeyes showed no quit, and battled back to tie it before giving up a late FG.

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    • Tim Musser 8 months ago

      That's exactly what Penn State is going to do. It doesn't matter who you are, or what running back you have, chances are you're not going to be able to run on Penn State, and I see no exception this week. Penn State held P.J. Hill to just 58 yards, the majority of which came in the second half when the game was essentially over. Penn State also held Kory Sheetz (Big Ten's 4th leading rusher behind Ringer, Green, and Royster) to only 59 yards, which is just over half of his season avg of 102.7 ypg, and Oregon State's Jaquizz Rodgers 20 yards below his season avg per game as well. If Iowa is going to beat Penn State, they're going to have to have success with the passing game, but I just don't see Penn State allowing that to happen.

      Penn State won't look past Iowa because Iowa consistently gives them a rough time, plus I would imagine there's some frustration over the BCS giving them the shaft. Penn State shuts down Indiana and Michigan State and finishes undefeated.

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    • J.A. Allen 8 months ago

      Hear! Hear! PSU is not taking Iowa for granted...and Iowa is not going to go gently away--in Iowa City - Iowa always has an advantage...the number defense in the Big 10 and an improving if inconsistent offense--I'd be very nervous if I were Penn State!! jaa

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    • Kevin Paul 8 months ago

      Yes, they will force the passing game to beat them... but week after week, it's the same... Paterno has their heads on straight - these players are veterans, they play smart and they know that every game is important and every team is dangerous in its own way. We'll see how they respond after the bye week.

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    • Tim Musser 8 months ago

      agreed, should be interesting to see how State is after the week off

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Thanks for the comments. Remember, PSU has one of the Nation's best offenses and one of the Nation's best defenses as well. Iowa will come out strong, but we will pull away. Iowa doesn't have a good QB, but they have a good RB and pretty good WRs. Tim, don't forget that we held Pryor and Beanie combined to 61 yards on the ground. Talk about impressive.

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  4. Brett Lissenden 8 months ago

    Nice article. I like that you address that this could be a tough game for PSU. I think Iowa will probably hang around for a while, but then PSU will pull away as your predicted score suggests.

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  5. Jonny Solovy 8 months ago

    I think it was a trap game until the media hyped it up again and warned penn state... the media tends to wake teams up who could be upset. I don't think PSU will win in a blowout but I think it will be close til about the mid 3rd... PSU 31 Iowa 17

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Your prediction could be right, but after PSU got beat out by TTU in the polls, they will want revenge. In 2005 after they lost to Michigan, ruining a perfect season, they came out and destroyed Illinois 63-10. It was 56-3 at the half, and 63-3 at the end of the third. I think since its on the road and against a decent Iowa team, it won't be that bad, but PSU will get revenge, as they always do.

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    • Jeff Allen 8 months ago

      players and coaches and teams don't care about rankings and polls. get a clue.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Jeff, stop it. YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!! These players aren't idiots, they do care. PSU makes it seem like they don't care, but they do. So do all other teams. They hate the BCS when they're left out, and love it when they're in, except Joe Pa always hates it. YOU KNOW NOTHING! If you're so smart, then why don't you write an article Mr. Know It All. Stop commenting on mine if you DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! Write an article of your own that says something worthwhile, or stop commenting on mine. I don't need your bs on my article.

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  6. Jonny Solovy 8 months ago

    I am going to have to back up Isaac here Jeff...if that was true then why is Pete Carroll and Bob Stoops so angry about the BCS rankings? Any why is Joe Pa pretending to not understand the BCS... they have to care...it is their job...

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Thank you Jonny. This guy Jeff has been responding to all of my comments over the past few days that I am stupid and wrong. I know I was right, especially on this one. Everyone cares about the polls, especially when there are 3 undefeated teams with three games to go, and conference championships. They have to care, if they get a bad ranking, their team may not get the bowl they deserve. Someone could lose their job over the rankings, everyone cares. Everyone wants to make it to the National Title, so they all care about the polls. The BCS polls determine who goes to the NC.

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  7. Steven Swanson 8 months ago

    PSU in blowout!!

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Definitely! Iowa's gonna get smoked! They won't even see it coming, it'll just be like...................BOOM!!! Haha. I can't wait 'till Saturday...and I can't wait 'till tomorrows over. I have 3 tests and one project due tomorrow. Such a bad day at school tomorrow. :(
      At least its Friday. :)

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  8. Micah Green 8 months ago

    I hope PSU win out. That way Joe Pa looks good...then again I don't want Florida to kill PSU like they did OSU. =) It's inevitable. lol

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Micah, once again, PSU is not OSU. PSU vs. UF would be a great game, a classic. Mr. "Isaac Luber kicked my butt", hah, expect to hear that for the week after the NC. lol. Let's Go State!

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    • Micah Green 8 months ago

      I would beg to differ "Micah green kicked my butt." =) We will see.

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  9. Larry Roman 8 months ago

    With respect to Joe and the polls: Joe does care but he has a long history with the polls and just doesn't care to the extent we fans do. That's because, as he says," What can I do about the polls?" His teams have been have been victimized by uninformed pollsters since his first years as a head coach. His unbeaten and untied teams in 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1994 were all excellent teams (each with many NFL players) that were voted number 2, except for the 1974 team that finished in the number 5 spot. As far as a PSU-UF game, I believe the two teams are both excellent, with great offenses and great defenses, which should make a hell of a good game. As a PSU alum, I hope the Lions prevail. but win or lose I know the game will be enjoyable to watch.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Thanks for your comment Larry. Joe has been cheated out of a National Championship in many years. Such as all of his undefeated seasons, especially the back to back ones, the one where Nixon, I believe, claimed Texas as Champion over PSU, and in '94 where they were clearly the best team in the Nation. Either everyone hates us, or this is just unfair. Everyone is saying that Joe Pa will get in this year because of the "Joe Pa" factor and its cheating, but I say "SHUT UP!" to those people because PSU has been cheated so many times before.

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    • Roscoe Miller 8 months ago

      thanks for your stupid, shitty dumb comment, larry you fuckin' fag.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Hello Roscoe. You are my first goldfish on my article! And for the first time, its not against me...but against a fellow person. Why can't the goldfish think of better names, they always do these weird names???

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    • Roscoe Miller 8 months ago

      Yeah, my name's weird. YOUR fuckin' name is LUBER - fitting since you're always lubing your asshole up so other dudes can penetrate it with their fuckin' cocks. Fuck off.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Roscoe the Goldfish!!! Your my newest goldfish!

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  10. Timothy Stella 8 months ago

    what a bullshit roughing the kicker call in the 4th quarter. penn state's about as overrated as overrated gets.

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  11. Iceman 8 months ago

    haha penn state lost. this will save the nation of having to watch another crappy big ten team get crushed by a sec giant in the national title game, again. now i can rest easy knowing that this years title game wont suck, the rose bowl will.

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  12. GatorJon 8 months ago

    What is the over/under on how long before we get the first "PSU is the best one-loss team in the country" comment or article? Whatever it is, I will take the under.

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  13. James Tressel 8 months ago

    Here's how the new rankings should look (as of 7:00 PM):

    1. Alabama
    2. Texas Tech
    3. Texas
    4. Florida
    5. Oklahoma
    6. USC
    7. Oklahoma State
    8. Ohio State
    9. Utah
    10. Missouri
    11. Georgia
    12. Penn State

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  14. Darnell Burton 8 months ago

    YOU ARE...LOO-ZERS!!

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  15. steve b 8 months ago

    Never look past the Hawkeyes they play hard and have not been blown out in any game this year. So to make a 48 to 10 prediction was very unrealistic.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Well, if I knew there were going to be huge winds, I would have changed the prediction. Windy games are usually close, as it is hard to pass and run your offenses in the wind, and the field position gets screwed up in wind. I would have predicted a 7 point PSU victory, but PSU played not to lose, and they got upset. If only they played to win on that last drive, they could have put it away, but running up the middle for one yard doesn't help.

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  1. eric h 8 months ago

    hahahahhahahahhah steve and darnell couldnt agree more...... all these penn state clowns ran there mouths for so long thinking they were good. thank you hawkeyes for exploiting the nittany kitties, if it wasnt for the refs doing all they could to keep the kitties alive (i.e the fumble on the 1 yrd line giving penn state the ball when it was clearly iowas ball, and that ridiculous roughing the punted call at the end of the game) it wouldnt have even been that close..

    48-10 psshh gimme a break, with that said i dont respect the penn state fans but i still respect and always will joepa

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      an upset doesn't mean your not a good team. look at USC for example. How about LSU last year, twice they were upset. You probably didn't watch the game, but there were 30 mile per hour winds, which made it hard for us to throw. Winds make the games hard, and usually very close. Iowa got more bs calls in this game than PSU has gotten all season. If it wasn't windy, PSU would have won, easily.

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    • Roscoe Miller 8 months ago

      coulda shoulda woulda. crybabyass excuses bore me.

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    • James Colt 8 months ago

      I don't understand your windy argument. If I can recall correctly both teams had to play with the wind problems. The wind didn't mysteriously die everytime that Iowa had the ball did it. Look, pure and simple the only thing you can do is tip your hat and move on. Life goes on, and so does college football. Making excuses will only make you bitter and a sore loser. I know it's hard. I was devastated last week when Texas lost, but I'm getting over it, and know there's is next season if they don't do it this season.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      James, he was saying PSU wasn't good. I was saying that they are good, and were upset, just like USC, just like LSU last year, just like every other upset. PSU is great, and they got upset. There were wind problems for both teams, but it affected PSU's offense more because PSU is a run and pass offense, while Iowa is mostly a run offense.

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  2. steve b 8 months ago

    Wind or no wind, they both had to play in the elements and Iowa took care of business and that is all that needs to be said. Yes Penn State is a good team and will probably go to the rose bowl if they take care of business. Isaac don't make excuses, Penn State blew it, and just hope they do not choke the next two games away.

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  3. steve b 8 months ago

    Isaac your sounding a little emotional about all this. Look at the big picture PSU has lost one game and will likely be in the Rose Bowl. I wish that were true for the Hawkeyes. Iowa will probably finish 7 and 5 and go to the Alamo bowl big whoop. PSU gets to a big time bowl game and if it all works out, gets a win and looks great to millions of viewers and redeem themselves. Sure is better than the Hawkeyes prospects.

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  4. Kurt S 8 months ago

    Steve, you're a MORON! You and others like you are the very reason Penn State and the Big Ten get no respect and are despised! Why can't you just congratulate Iowa and root for them to win the rest of their games -- and win a respectful bowl game against an SEC or Big 12 opponent. Until such time as the Big Ten teams start playing and beating tougher out of conference teams the Big Ten will always be criticized. The Big Ten gains respect if all of the Big Ten teams win their bowl games -- So shut up and cheer for Michigan State, Ohio State, Northwestern, Minnesota and Iowa to finish strong -- instead of being an immature crybaby and denigrating the team that just beat you!

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    • steve b 8 months ago

      I'm glad you think I'm a moron. If you read my other comments you would realize I'm a Hawkeye fan. However I am very realistic about the Hawkeyes and I'm not bashing the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have not had much success in the last three years and in fact this maybe there best team over the last three years and thats not saying a lot. The big diference this year over the last three is this team plays harder.

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  5. Mike J 8 months ago

    I have never seen so much BS in my life. Penn state is the better team on paper but games not just what is on the paper. Iowa is better when not making mistakes then most people understand, they have a tough defense that does not tire easily. The offense can be inconsistent at times good and others not so good. Penn State is a great team and Joe P has my great respect. Four things help Iowa win the day. The Bye week for Penn state, the wind cause more problems for Penn state then Iowa, the Iowa defense did not quit and Iowa's home field advantage. To big ten nay sayers I will tell them to hold judgment on the years best teams until after the bowl games are over. I have seen many times when the press and public opinion has said the Big Ten was having a bad year just to have them win most of the bowl games. Then after the bowl season is over no one recants their opinion because they are looking at basketball by that time.

    And to all the people who get so upset on these forums. "It is just a Game" a game we love but still a game. I want my team to win but I am just as understanding that the other fans want their team to win. So if you can't keep your anger in check then you should just be silent and anyone who does respond in anger you are just showing your lack of understand.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Penn State is the better team. They played like crap. They got upset. They blew their season. That's all there is to it.

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    • Jeff Allen 8 months ago

      That's OK, we Buckeyes know how you feel. OSU is the best team in the Big Ten, but played like crap against a mediocre Penn State team and lost.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Jeff, we beat you at home, in front if a record crowd. Also, we played the worst game, even worse than we did against Iowa, and we still beat you. Ohio State is good, but not nearly as good as us.

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  6. Mike J 8 months ago

    Isaac by your reasoning I can say that Iowa played badly in their losses and they only lost by slim margins so that would justify that conclusion. Penn State did not let Iowa win. Iowa played a better game so they won. Could Penn state play a better game, I am sure they could and have, but Iowa could have played better as well. So on this day they were not the better team but on any other given day they maybe. I would have loved to see Joe P go for a national title but I am please to see a team like Iowa who is on the edge of being great step up to the challenge.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      PSU played like crap! If they played halfway decent, they would have won. Iowa is a decent team, but not nearly as good as PSU.

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  7. Larry Roman 8 months ago

    I feel for you, Isaac. But the game is over and a very good Iowa team played better defense and better offense when they had to and that is what counts. This does not diminish the value of this Penn State team to us fans, it just makes us realize that playing football in cold windy weather is a great equalizer. In those conditions the team that wants it more usually wins. I was surprised at how good the Iowa defense played. They have talent. With some hard work and concentration the Lions can win out and play in the Rose Bowl. And that is a big deal. So our season isn't over. We still have some good games ahead.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      We blew it. We're better than a Rose Bowl. We're a NC caliber team, probably the best in the Nation, but we blew it. If we're lucky everyone ahead of us will lose and we can redeem ourselves. A Rose Bowl isn't good enough for us, we need a NC for redemption. This was our best chance ever at a NC, our best team ever.

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  8. Kent Moore 8 months ago

    Isaac,

    You better cancel your tickets to Miami because Penn State isn't going. I told you that you needed to calm down about the whole BCS Ranking business because there was still 3 weeks of football left to be played. Sorry about the Lions...but the Hawkeyes wanted it more on Saturday. Gotta give them credit.

    A word of advice...don't start talking about the Rose Bowl...because there are two weeks left in PSU's season and they have a re-energized MSU coming to town in 2 weeks. They will be coming off a bye week and will be well rested...and they will be playing for a chance to win the Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl.

    Best of Luck to the rest of PSU's season. Hope you do well.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Coming off a bye week doesn't look good to me. Hopefully the bye will have the same effect on MSU as it did on us. PSU played like crap, they overlooked them, and they didn't care. We need to concentrate on our last 2 at home in order to go 2 the Rose Bowl or wait for all the teams ahead of us to lose so we can go back to the NC.

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  9. chuck hession 8 months ago

    This thread was almost as much fun as watching the Hawkeyes beat PSU on Saturday at Kinnick. You seem so knowledgable of how the Lions just gave up and gave the game away that you must be a team insider and I'm sure you shared your thoughts with the players in the locker room after the game? Probably not because they would have kicked your sorry little butt. I only ask that you make another big brave prediction about how PSU will destroy MSU "like BOOM" so we can watch you disintergrate into a tearfull little baby one more time.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Wow. You are a donkey, and if you're not smart enough to get what I'm inferring, well, then maybe you should go to school. Penn State will not crush MSU, it will be a 10 point victory. Your bad comments are not necessary here, though.

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  10. chuck hession 8 months ago

    Isaac,
    You are correct about my bad comments and I appologize. I need to learn to count ten before I press the "submit" button. You are clearly a big Nittany Lion fan and the loss Saturday must really hurt. Just try to understand that Iowa fans love their team every bit as much as you do yours. the Hawkeyes deserve to be complemented for a playing better than the Lions on Saturday rather than all of the nonsense that has been posted above this. Iowa had its problems early in the year when the coaches decided to switch quarterbacks at the start of the Big Ten season. It has been a maturation process for Stanzi and the offense as the learn to play together as a unit. Iowa now is starting to play with a consistancy that was not present at the start of conference play. As a result, right now there are at least four teams in the Big Ten that could beat any other Big Ten team on any given day - PSU, OSU, MSU and Iowa. Unfortunately for Penn State, they did not get to play Iowa early in the season and at home like MSU. If it holds any value, every Iowa fan at Kinnick Stadium was respectful of the talent and experience of this Penn State team and we did not just assume that we would beat Penn State like we had done in 5 of the last six meetings with PSU. My comments above were born from my frustration that some fans refusal to accept that there are some very good teams in the Big Ten. I should not have said wahat I said above but and appologize for my "bad comments" perhaps one day you can do the same.

    I will leave you with this thought to ponder. Many of this year's Penn State starters will graduate and head off to play on Sundays (Shipley, Ohrnberger, Landolt, Cadogan, Clark, Shuler, Williams, Butler, and Norwood on offense and Gaines, Sales, Hull, Davis, Sargeant, Rubin, and Scirrotto on defense are all gone next year) while almost all of the Iowa team (9 starters return on offense and 8 starters return on defense) will be looking forward to the Happy Valley trip and a chance to make it 7 wins in the last 8 meetings. I will not make any bold predictions for the Hawkeyes but if I were you I would remember your comments over the past week when you sit down to make your predictions next year.

    Good Luck to the Lions against Indiana and MSU.

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Thank you. Iowa deserved it. They came out and played hard and well. Penn State came out, didn't seem to care, and played like crap. Iowa is a good team, and if you overlook them and play like crap, they will beat you, especially at their home.

      I am so upset because this is PSU's best team ever. As you have mentioned, those players that are leaving are great. This was our one great shot that I can imagine at a NC. It could be decades before we have a team this good and a shot at the NC again. Next year, we will be much weaker. Iowa will probably beat us. This year was our year, and we blew it. We should have won, as we were better this year, one of the best in the Nation. This was our last chance at glory, and its over. Good luck to your Hawkeyes, hopefully they can get a pretty good bowl.

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  11. chuck hession 8 months ago

    Again Isaac you miss my point and continue sounding so arrogant. There are a number of teams in the Big Ten that could beat your Lions even when they're playing their best. My experience is that usually when a team plays like crap is because the other team caused them to play like crap. This may be the best team that PSU has had in years but their talent level is not significantly better than Iowa's or any number of big ten teams. It could be easily argued that Iowa is superior to PSU across both lines. While Clark is a fine quarterback for PSU's spread offense he is not the best pure passer in the league. PSU has three talented and experienced receivers but if Clark is running for his life it is kind of hard to find a receiver. Football is also a team sport where teamwork, chemistry and technique can and usually do trump individual talents. The biggest advantage that PSU will continue to have over Iowa is a significantly larger instate recruiting base. Pennsylvania will continue to grow lots of very good young football players that will dream of playing in blue and white; but there will also be a few Bob Sanders, Ed Hinkels and Jeremiha Hunters that Penn State overlooks that will be glad to don the Iowa black and gold. I suspect that both teams will replace the current players with atheletes that are of comparable ability.

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    • Isaac Luber 7 months ago

      No team could beat PSU when they are playing their best, so I don't know what you are talking about. Decent teams like Iowa can beat PSU when they play like crap and overlook them, just as Ole Miss beat Florida because they played like crap and overlooked them. I am not being arrogant, you just think PSU sucks so it sounds to you like I'm arrogant. When good teams play like crap against decent teams, or any team for that matter, they can lose. Penn State is clearly the best team in the Big 10, they just played like crap, overlooked Iowa, and got upset. Penn State's talent at most positions is better than that of Iowa's, but the only player that showed up on Saturday was Derrick Williams, and sometimes Evan Royster. Iowa did help PSU play like crap, but PSU made more mistakes and penalties and turnovers due to bad decisions and due to themselves than Iowa made them do. Iowa did sometimes make PSU make mistakes, but PSU beat themselves in this game, just as Florida beat themselves against Ole Miss, having 5 turnovers and penalties and mistakes. We had so many opportunities but we just kept messing up, and we beat ourselves.

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    • Isaac Luber 7 months ago

      No team in the Big 10 could beat PSU when they're at their best, sorry about that. But possibly no team in the Nation could beat PSU at their best, but I cannot say that because PSU has not played the top teams at their best.

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  12. Larry Roman 8 months ago

    Hi Chuck, I've been reading your comments and you make good points. You are apparently a clear thinker and know the game of football. I believe we all have intellectual biases when it comes to discussing our own team. That's understandable since we are all fans. And that's what makes the world of sports so interesting. Good luck to us all.

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    • chuck hession 7 months ago

      Larry, Thanks for the reasonable words. I am definitely an Iowa fan but I don't think that Penn State sucks. I do think that Isaac has drunken the Happy Valley KoolAde but that's okay. I know of a few Iowa fans who are the same way when it comes to the Hawkeyes. The black and gold colored glasses shade everything they see and say. While they are fun to have around on game day, I never seek them out for accurate assessments of the team. I have lived in Iowa for the past 28 years but was raised in the east and attended West Virginia as an undergrad (I was a freshman during Bobby Bowden's final year at WVU) My entire family lives on the east coast so I know something about Penn State. My nephew (a UConn alum) came out for the game and he was going on and on about the five star players that PSU has that Iowa doesn't have as he predicted a Penn State blowout. I don't place much value on stars that kids bring in from high school; they don't factor in that college football is more about player and team development than high school acheivement. Anyway, good luck to PSU against Indiana and MSU. We are now counting on the Lions to win out and help bump the Hawkeyes to a January 1 bowl with a little luck.

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